Adjustable car-steps.



S. COTHRON.

ADJUSTABLE CAR STEPS.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 2. 1912.

Patented June 30, 1914.

3 SHBETSSHEET 1.

Witnesses COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH CD-IWASHINQTON, 5.1:.

S. COTHRDN.

ADJUSTABLE GAR STEPS.

APPLIOATION FILED JAN. 2. 1912.

Patented June 30, 1914.

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S. OOTHRON.

ADJUSTABLE GAR STEPS.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 2. 1912.

Patented June 30,1914.

3 SHEETSSHEBT 3.

Inventor {M @W%m- Ti l I I l I v @t'ty.

COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH C0,. WASHINGTON, n. c.

nnrrnn STATES PATENT OFFICE.

SAMUEL COTI-IRON, O SHAWNEE, OKLAHOMA.

ADJUSTABLE GAR-STEPS.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, SAMUEL CoTHRoN, a citizenof the United States, residing at Shawnee, in the county of Pottawatomieand State of Oklahoma, have invented certain new and useful Improvementsin Adjustable Car-Steps, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to certain improvements in adjustable steps forpassenger coaches; and the objects and nature of the invention will bereadily understood by those skilled in the art in the light of thefollowing explanation of the accompanying drawings illustratingwhat Inow consider to be my preferred embodiment from among other formationsand arrangements within the spirit and scope of my invention.

The invention consists in certain novel features in construction and incombinations and arrangements as more fully and par ticularly set forthhereinafter.

Referring to the accompanying drawings :-Figure 1, is an elevationshowing the steps in lowered or operative position. Fig. 2, is avertical section taken in the plane of the line 22, Fig. 1. Fig. 3, is aplan view showing the steps elevated to form a platform, parts .of thecoach being shown in horizontal section. Fig. 4, is an elevation showingthe steps elevated to form a platform, and the side wings swung in outof the way and under the steps. Fig. 5, is a vertical section taken inthe plane of the line 55, Fig. 4. Fig. 6, is a vertical section on anelarged scale taken in the plane of the line 6-6, Fig. 2. Fig. 7 is avertical sec tion, on an enlarged scale, taken in the plane of the line7-7, Fig. 5. Fig. 8, is a vertical section, enlarged, in the plane ofthe line 8S, Fig. 2. Figs. 9 and 10, are detail views of parts on anenlarged scale.

This invention contemplates the provision of a series of steps capableof elevation from their normal operative position for the ingress andegress of passengers to and from the coach, to a position wherein thetreads of all the steps will rest in one horizontal plane to form alateral extension in the plane of the coach platform, whereby passengersand others will be prevented from riding the steps, and from-boarding ordescending from a coach while in motion, and also the steps are elevatedto a position wherein they are not liable to strike obstructions on oralong the road bed, and

Specification of Letters Patent. Patgnted June 30, 1914,

Application filed January 2, 1912.

Serial No. 669,132.

liability of damage to the steps in case of accident is reduced to theminimum.

In the drawings, I somewhat diagrammatically indicate the end 1, of-apassenger coach equipped with my invention, and having platform 10, anddash or vestibule end wall 11.

Opposite vertical side walls are provided to form a housing for thesteps or to form the vertical side walls of the stairway when the stepsare in lowered or operative position. These side walls are formed byfixed vertical portions 12, and hinged sections or wings 13,constituting the lower outer portions of said vertical walls. The wingsare hinged at 1 1, at their inner vertical edges to the fixed walls 12,to swing on vertical axes. The arrangement is such that the wings arelocated in the planes of their respective side walls 12 when the stepsare lowered or in operative position, as shown by Figs. land 2, and sothat they can be swung or folded inwardly together or one behind theother under the steps when the steps are elevated to form the platformextension, as shown by Figs. 4 and 5. When the steps are elevated toform the platform extension the wings are folded inwardly one behind theother so as to extend transversely of the space between the fixed walls12, and so as to be out of the way of obstructions along the road bed orright of way and thereby avoid danger of damage and reduce to theminimum projections below the coach platform when the coach is inmotion.

lVhen it becomes necessary to lower the steps to form the stairway, thewings are first swung outwardly to their operative positions, in theplanes, and forming portions of the housing walls. The steps are thenallowed to drop to operative positions with one or more of the lowersteps extending between the wings and maintaining the same in opened oroperative position.

Various means can be provided for swinging the wings to and fromwithdrawn and operative positions. For instance, I show a horizontalrock shaft 2, suitably mounted longitudinally of the coach and below theplatform thereof and provided with a normally horizontally disposedcrank arm 20, pivotally joined by elongated pitman 21, to links 22,pivoted at 23, to the lower ends of the wings, respectively. The crankis provided with an operating pull link 24:, at its lower end pivotallycoupled thereto and those skilled in the art.

extending upwardly therefrom through an opening 25, in the coachplatform and at its upper end having a handle 26, accessible above saidplatform. The pull link is freely movable longitudinally through theopening 25 to pull the crank 20, upwardly and rearwardly to swing thewings inwardly to folded or inoperative position, or to pull the crankupwardly and forwardly in swinging the wings outwardly in oppositedirections from folded to operative po sition, as will be readilyunderstood by The crank has a path of nuwement of approximately 180degrees, and it is in the two extreme positions that the hinged sectionsare in the proper positions. The crank and its parts acquire sufficientmomentum from the pull to be moved to the extreme positions.

Several vertically movable steps are shown having paths of movement ofdifierent lengths, said paths all terminating at their upper ends in thesame horizontal plane. The steps are approximately similar inconstruction and each consists of a horizontal tread 3, and a verticalriser 30, rigid with the tread. The risers preferably project slightlyat their ends to fit and slide vertically in suitable parallel verticalguideways 31, in the vertical side walls of the stairway housing andhaving closed lower ends forming stops or shoulders limiting thedownward movement of the steps and supporting the same in operativeposition.

Horizontal rigid cleats 32, limit the up ward movement of the stepswhile the guideways terminate at their lower ends at differentelevations to hold the steps when lowered at the proper elevations toform a stairway. The guideways for at least the outermost (or lowest)step and if so desired, for the next step, extend across the frontportions of the fixed side walls, and are continued along the innerfaces of the wings, but the vertical length of the wings is such thatthe steps when in elevated position will be entirely above and clear ofsaid wings. The steps are connected together and the innermost or topstep is connected to the rigid riser 30 by vertical channel irons fixedand countersunk in the risers and at their upper ends closed by theprojecting front edges of the treads, and horizontal metal plates orbars 34, fixed to the under faces of the treads and projectingrearwardly therefrom with rear T heads 35, confined and slidablevertically in said channel irons. i-i. vertically swingable bridge tree86, can also be provided at its upper or inner end pivotally ]O1116(l tothe lower end of a depending link 37, at its upper'end pivotallv Joinedto the platform by m a suitable bracket or hanger 38. ih1s bridge treeextends transversely of the steps beneath the r1sers thereof and atitsouter end is pivotally joined to the riser of the outermost or lowerstep. This bridge tree swings ver tically with the lower step, and whenthe steps are in upper or platform-extensionforming position, the risersof the steps between the platform and the outermost step, rest on saidbridge tree and the steps are up held, braced and steadied thereby andin fact are forced up to position against the cleats or steps 32,thereby. It to be noted however, that when the lowermost step is firstelevated, it will be moved up alone until its bar 3st strikes the treadof the next step whereupon said two steps will move up together withtheir treads flush, then the bar 3% of the second step strilres thetread of the third step when all three steps will. move up together withtheir treads level and practically abutting to form the closed platformextension.

Various means can be provided for raising' the steps from operativeposition, although I preferably employ power actuated mechanism for thispurpose. .iior instance, in the example illustrated, I utilize the powerofeompressed air taken from the air brake system with which passengercoaches are equipped. ln utilizing this power, the vertical grab ironsl, are formed by vertically elongated rigidly-secured cylinders containing pistons d0, having depending vertical piston rods 41, at their lowercnl to the upper portions of the ends of the tread of the lower step.Compressed air supply pipes 13, open into the lower ends of thecylinders over the closed lower ends thereof and below the limits ofdownward movement of the pistons, see Fig. The pipes l3, extend from anysuitable source of compressed. air or other actuating fluid and areprovided with a suitable valve or valves having proper operating means,not shown herein, for controlling the passe of actuat ing fluid to saidcylinders.

At their upper portions, preferably just below the limits of upwardlllQVPl'llOlll of the pistons, I provide the cylinders with exhaustoutlets ii, for escape of compressed air from the cylinders when thepistons are raised the steps to their platform-extension orniing'position, inasmuch as in the example illustrated, the pressure in thecylinders is not depended on to hold the steps in elevated position.

Those skilled in the art will readily understand that when the parts arein the po tions shown by Figs. 2 and S, if fluid u: Jl the necessarypressure is introduced into the cylinders below the pistons, saidpistons will thereupon move to the upper ends of the cylinders liftingthe lower step and consequently the remaining s cps in the mannerhereinbefore recited. When the steps have been thus elevated toplatformextension forming position the handle 26, is pulled up to itslimit of upward movement to pull the crank 20, upwardly and rearwardlybeyond the dead center and then allowed to drop, to operate the pitmanand toggle links 22, to swing the wings rearwardly and inwardly belowthe steps and out of the way.

I preferably provide suitable spring 'or other catches or look mechanismto hold the steps in elevated platform-extension forming position. Thesecatches are preferably vertically arranged in the fixed portions of thevertical housing walls just above the hinged wings to spring under theopposite ends of the riser of the lowermost step and uphold the same,when said riser has passed upwardly above and clear of the wings.

The guideways 31, are preferably formed by grooved metal plates orchannel irons secured and countersunk in the fixed and hinged (wing)portions of the vertical walls of the stairway housing.

The channel bars secured in the fixed portions of the side wallsimmediately above the wings and that form the upper portions of theguideways 31, for the lowermost step (in the specific exampleillustrated) carry vertically disposed levers 5 arranged in rear of saidbars and fulcrumed between their ends on transverse pivots 50, carriedby rearwardly projecting ears 51, rigid with said bars. The upper endsof the levers are notched or otherwise formed to provide riser-engagingand step upholding shoulders or seats 52, and the bars arelongitudinally and centrally slotted to permit said shoulder ends 52, toprojeetforwardly or outwardly into the channels of the bars for thepurpose of projecting under said risers to uphold the step. Coiledsprings 53, act on said levers to yieldingly hold their upper endsprojecting forwardly into riser supporting position.

I preferably provide means for operating said catches or step upholdinglevers, to cause withdrawal thereof from step upholding position, sothat the bottom step can move past the same to its elevated position,and also to swing said levers from step upholding positions to permitthe step upheld thereby to drop to lowered or operative position. Forinstance, I can employ for this purpose, vertically-disposed dependinglevers 54, carried by said bars and mounted to rock on intermediatetransverse fulcrum 55, and attheir upper ends pivotally coupled to thelower ends of the catches or step supporting levers 5, to rocktherewith. The free ends of said catch controlling levers depend fromsaid bars into the path of movement of the wings so as to engage andbear against the rear or outer faces of said wings when in opened oroperative positions. The springs 53, not only tend to normally hold theupper ends of the catches in operative position in the path of movementof the step but also tend to hold the lower free ends of the operatingor controlling levers 54, projected inwardly beyond the lower ends ofsaid bars forming the guide ways and into the paths of the wings, whensaid wings are in folded or inoperative position, so that when saidwings are swung outwardly to normal or operative positions in the sidewalls said depending ends of levers 54c, will be engaged by said wingsand pressed back thereby against the tension of springs 53, to swing thecatch levers 5, in a direction to move their upper ends back from theguideways 31, and thereby release the steps upheld by said levers 5,permitting the same to drop to lowered position.

When the steps are in operative lowered positions, the wings are intheir normal operative positions forming parts of the housing walls, andholding the levers 54: and 5, swung to positions against the tension ofsaid springs in which the shouldered stepsupporting upper ends of levers5, are removed from guideways 31. The steps can then be freely elevatedto platform-extension forming position. As soon as the steps have thusbeen raised above the wings, said wings are swung inwardly to foldedinoperative position, and the springs acting on the levers 5, 54,immediately swing said levers to throw the shouldered upper ends oflevers 5, into the guideways 31, below the riser of the bottom step tothereby uphold said step and consequently the remaining steps. -When thesteps are to be lowered, the wings are first swung outwardly tooperative position. The wings in closing into place in the housingwalls, engage and swing the levers 54, to move the levers 5, fro-mguideways 31, thereby releasing the steps and permitting them to drop bygravity to their lowered positions.

It is evident that various changes, modifications, and variations mightbe resorted to in the forms, construction, arrangements and combinationsdisclosed without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention,and hence I do not wish to limit myself to the exact disclosure hereof.

That I claim is 1. In combination with a passenger-coach having aplatform, a series of movable steps, means to mount said steps in anormal stairway position, hand-holds for said platform, said hand-holdsextending vertically and being hollow, pistons and piston rods mountedin said hand-holds and connected with said steps, said hand-holdsadapted to have a connection with a. fluid pressure system whereby thesteps may be elevated to a platform forming position.

2. In combination with a passengercoaeh having a platform, a series ofmovable steps, means to mount said steps in anormal stairway position,hand-holds for said platform, said hand-l1olds extending vertically andbeing hollow, pistons and piston rods mounted in said hand-holds, saidrods being connected to the lowermost of said steps, thelovermost ofsaid steps having a slid able connection with the remaining steps, saidhand-holds adapted to have a connection with a fluid pressure systemwhereby said steps may be elevated to a platform forming position.

8. r'in apparatus of the character described comprising a plurality ofindividual steps each being vertically movable and consisting of a riserand a tread, each riser being provided with a socket-ed guideway andeach tread being provided with a headed member to fit in said soclretedguideway, the headed members on each tread fitting in the soclretedguideway of the step immediately above, and means for moving thelowermost step upwardly, said headed members being adapted to move insaid socketed guideways until they engage the treads of the steps nextabove, when the engagement will cause the steps to move upwardly, and soon until the steps are elevated to a platform forming position.

In a apparatus of the character described, a plurality of steps, eachbeing vertically movable and including a riser and a tread portion, astationary riser adjacent the uppermost of said steps, certain of therisers each being provided with a socketed guideway, certain of thetreads each being provided on their under surfaces with a headed memberengaging in one of said soclceted o'uidcways, means for lifting thelowermost step, each headed member being adapted to move in its socketedguideway until said headed member contacts with the under side of thenext adjacent tread, thereby alining the adjacent t eads in the samehorizontal plane and lifting the step next above, and so on until thesteps are in a platform forming position.

5. in an apparatus of the character described, plurality of verticallymovable steps having p of movement of different lengths be tterminating; their upper ends in the same horizontal plane, said stepsincluding risers and treads, the treads being adapted to be positionedin alinement when the steps reach their upper limit of move ment, asupporting member arranged under and transversely of the steps swingablymounted at end and having its other end pivotally connected to thebottom step said supporting: mei'nber having iorizontal port' an whichis adapted to support the intermediate steps, and means for raising saidsteps.

6. In combination with a passenger-coach, a stairway housii'ig havingside members, the side members being provided with vertical guideways ofdifferent lengths, a plurality of steps each having riser and a treadportion, said riser portions being extended beyond said tread portionsto lit in said guideways, each riser being provided with a soclretedguideway and each tread projecting ever the edge of the riser in frontand having a headed member projecting from its rear portion, said headedmembers adapted to engage in said socketed guide ways, means forraisinp' said steps to a platform forming position.

7. In combination with a passenger-coach, a stairway housing having sidemembers, the side members being provided with vertical guideways ofdiherent lengths, a plurality of steps each having a riser and a treadportion, said riser portions being extended beyond said tread portionsto fit in said guideways, each riser being provided with a socketedguideway and each tread projecting over the edge of the riser in frontand having a headed member projecting; from its rear portion, saidheaded members adapted to engage in said socketed guideways, means forraising said steps to a platform forming position, said means be ingconnected to the lowermost step and adapted to elevate said lowermoststep, the headed guiding member of said lowermost step being adapted tomove in said socketed guideway on the riser of the next adjacent stepuntil the tread portions of the two steps are in the same horizontalplane, when the headed member engages the under face of the frontportion of the next adjacent step and lifts said step, the headed memberon the tread of said step acting as described to raise the next adjacentstep, and so on until the treads of the steps are in the same horizontalplane, forming a platform- 8. In combination with a passenger-coach, astairway housing having;- side members, the side members being providedwith vertical guidcways of different lengths, a plurality of steps eachhaving a. riser and a tread portion, said riser portions beingextendedbeyond tread portions to fit in said guideways, each riser beingprovided with a socketed guideway and each tread projecting over theedge of the riser in front and having a headed member projecting fromits rear portion, said headed members adapted to engage in said socketedguideways, means for raising said steps to a platform forming position,and means for looking said steps in their platform forming position.

' 9. In combination with a passenger-coach, a stairway housing havingside members, the side members being provided with vertical guideways ofdifferent lengths, a plurality of steps each having a riser and a treadportion, said riser portions beingextended beyond said tread portions tofit in said guideways, each riser being provided with a socketedguideway and each tread projecting over the edge of the riser in frontand having a headed member projecting from its rear portion, said headedmembers adapted to engage in said socketed guideways, means for raisingsaid steps to a platform forming position, and means for looking: saidsteps in their platform forming position, said means including springcontrolled catches being adapted to have their engaging portionsprojected into the longest of said guideways to engage the lowermostStep when it is in its raised position.

10. In combination with a car having a platform, folding stepscomprising several vertically movable steps, each step consisting of atread and a riser, means limiting the upward movement of the steps sothat their treads lie in a common horizontal plane, means limiting thedownward movement of the steps so their treads will lie in differenthorizontal lanes, means where by each ste has a limited verticalmovement independent of the step next above, cooperating, engaging meanson each step whereby the vertical movement of the bottom step will carrythe remaining steps to an elevated position, and step lifting meanspplied to the bottom step.

11. In combination with a car having a platform, adjustable stepscomprising vertical walls, each wall composed of a fixed portion and ahinged portion, manually controlled means for swinging the hingedportions to and from operative and inoperative or folded positions, andvertically movable steps arranged between said walls and provided withoperating means, said steps when in elevated position being arrangedabove and clear of said hinged portions.

12. In combination with a car having a platform, vertical walls forminga stairway housing and having vertical guideways, each wall comprisinghinged wings traversed. by one or more guideways, manually controlledmeans for swinging said wings inwardly out of the way and outwardly intooperative positions in said walls, several individually complete stepsarranged between said walls and vertically movable in said guideways,and provided with operating means.

13. In combination with a passengercoach having a stairway housing, saidhousing including side members, said side mem bers having guideways ofdifferent lengths, portions of said side members being hinged so as toswing to a position transverse of said housing, a plurality of stepseach having means engaging in certain of said guideways, said stepsbeing vertically movable, means for elevating said steps into a platformforming position, means for holding said steps in an elevated position,said holding means being adapted to be released by the movement of thehinged portions of th side members of the housing.

14. In combination with a passengercoach having a stairway housing, saidhousing including side members, said side members having guideways ofdifferent lengths, portions of said side members being hinged so as toswing to a position transverse of said housing, a plurality of stepseach having means engaging in certain of said guideways, said stepsbeing vertically movable, means for elevating said steps into a platformforming position, means for holding said steps in an elevated position,said 'means including spring controlled levers which are adapted toengage the lowermost of said steps, and having connections which areadapted to be actuated to release said levers by the movement of saidhinged sections of the side members of said housing.

15. In combination wit-h a passengercoach having a stairway housing,said housing including side members, said side members having guidewaysof difierentlengths, portions of said side members being hinged so as toswing to a position transverse of said housing, a plurality of stepseach having means engaging in certain of said guideways, said stepsbeing vertically movable, means for elevating said steps into a platformforming position, means for holding said steps in an elevated position,said means including a plurality of spring controlled levers eachpivotally mounted so that one end projects into the longest of saidguideways to form a support for the lowermost of said steps, a secondlever connected to each first mentioned lever and having an operativeend projecting into the path of one movement of one of said hingedsections of the side members of the housing, whereby when the hingedsections of the side members of the housing are moved into their normalposition they will engage the operating ends of said second mentionedlevers and release the lowermost step so that it may drop into normalposition by gravity.

'16. In combination with a car having a platform, adjustble stepscomprising vertical walls having vertical guideways, hinged inwardlyfoldable wings forming portions of said walls traversed by guideways,means for swinging said wings to and from operative and foldedpositions, several vertically movable loosely connected steps movablevertically in said guideways and arranged between said walls, springcatches arranged above said wings to hold said steps in elevatedposition, catch releasing levers arranged in the paths of and adapted tobe actuated by said wings to operate said catches to release said steps,and step operating mechanism.

17 In combination with a passengercoach, a housing having side membersprolocking said steps in their elevated position, said locking meansbeing adapted to he released by the movement of said hinged sectionsinto their normal position.

In testimony whereof I a'liiX my signature in presence of two Witnesses.

SAMUEL ooTi-rno Witnesses:

W. J. BARNETT, W. BARNETT, JR.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. 0.

